Richard Shelton James G. Blakemore Research Professor of Psychiatry and Professor of Pharmacology
Vice Chair for Clinical Research
Inflammation and Lipids in the Pathophysiology of Depression
Recent data suggests that innate immune mechanisms are involved in the pathophysiology of depression, including observations that: 1. A significant subset of depressed patients without inflammatory diseases show increases in pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha); 2. Administration of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interferons induce depression in about half of patients; and 3. Depression in the context of many diseases, including specific cancers and heart disease, is associated with elevations of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Recent data from our lab has shown elevations in pro-inflammatory factors in human post-mortem brain tissue samples from persons who were depressed at the time of death in contrast to normal controls. However, although the causal pathways linking inflammation and depression are known, the actual etiology of the inflammation is unknown. Recent data suggest that lipid accumulation in the form of white fat may be one pathway. White fat is pro-inflammatory and contributes significantly to other diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Moreover, diets with relative high n-3 to n-6 fatty acid ratios may be protective against depression.
316 Wilson Hall
Tuesday, 11/10/2009
12:10-1:00 PM
11/12/09 Neuroscience Seminar Series
Whitney Cleghorn
Vanderbilt University
Department of Pharmacology/V. Gurevich Lab
Title
Thursday, November 12, 2009
12:10 p.m.
316 Wilson Hall
Abstract
Department of Psychology NEUROSCIENCE SEMINAR SERIES
For additional information, contact Carol Wiley@carol.wiley@vanderbilt.edu
Thursday 11/12/09 SPECIAL TALK
2009 “Randolph Blake Early Career Award” Winner
David Lyon, Ph.D
Assistant Professor
University of California, at Irvine
Circuits mediating surround suppression in primary visual cortex
Extraclassical surround (ECS) stimuli provide a spatial context that modulates classical receptive field (CRF) responses of cells in early visual cortex and is thought to play a key role in figure ground segmentation and form vision. In our recent experiments we combined optical imaging and single-unit recording in cat V1 to determine whether the ECS is affected by neural circuits mediating orientation maps. We find that ECS suppression of neurons located within domains is better tuned to the preferred orientation of the CRF, whereas cells near fracture sites, such as pinwheels, exhibit comparatively weaker suppression. Furthermore, when we remove the near component of the surround, thought to be mediated through long-range intrinsic connections, the strength of iso-orientation suppression of domain cells is reduced making them indistinguishable from pinwheel neurons. Our results suggest that ECS tuning depends not only on position in the V1 orientation map, but on intrinsic connections between like-oriented domains. Future work in the lab is aimed at directly correlating ECS tuning of domain and pinwheel neurons to long-range lateral inputs by a novel method for tracing the anatomical inputs to a single neuron.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
103 Wilson Hall
4:10 PM
Friday 11/13/09 Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience Colloquium
Isabel Gauthier
Department of Psychology
Vanderbilt University
CanadianCenter for Behavioral Neuroscience University of Lethbridge
The origins of speech-related hand gestures in skilled reaching
Many theories of language posit its recent evolution, perhaps contemporaneous with the evolution of Homo sapiens, whereas other theories propose that language has embodied antecedents and so can be traced to earlier hominids or even the earliest primate ancestors of hominids. Here the argument is made that the arm and hand gestures that accompany human speech resemble the arm and hand movements used for other activities such as walking, climbing, and reaching. As such language origins can be traced to the many animal species in nonprimate orders that make use of skilled forelimb movements and may well begin with forelimb use of the first terrestrial vertebrates.
Monday, November 16, 2009 3:10 p.m. 316 Wilson Hall
11/17/09 CLINICAL BROWN BAG
Andrew Tomarken Associate Professor, Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Psychology
Statistical Methods
316 Wilson Hall
Tuesday, 11/17/2009
12:10-1:00 PM
Wednesday, 11/18/09 Neuroscience Graduate Seminar Series
Jay Gingrich, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry
Columbia University Medical Center
Director, Sackler Laboratory of Basic Science
New York State Psychiatric Institute
“Serotonin Modulation of Brain Development: Impact on Affective- and Anxiety-Related Adult Phenotypes”
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
4:10 p.m.
MRB III Room 1220
Co-sponsor Vanderbilt Brain Institute
11/19/09 Neuroscience Seminar Series
Matt Nelson
Vanderbilt University
Department of Psychology/Schall Lab
Title
Thursday, November 19, 2009
12:10 p.m.
316 Wilson Hall
Abstract
Department of Psychology NEUROSCIENCE SEMINAR SERIES
For additional information, contact Carol Wiley@carol.wiley@vanderbilt.edu
Friday 11/20/09 Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience Colloquium
NO TALK - PSYCHONOMICS
11/26/09 Neuroscience Seminar Series
NO SEMINAR - THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Friday 11/27/09 Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience Colloquium
NO TALK - THANKSGIVING
12/1/09 CLINICAL BROWN BAG
Shelagh Mulvaney Assistant Professor of Nursing; Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Kennedy Center
Talks about her research
316 Wilson Hall
Tuesday, 12/1/2009
12:10-1:00 PM
12/3/09 Neuroscience Seminar Series
Omar Gharbawie, PhD
Vanderbilt University
Department of Psychology/Kaas Lab
Title
Thursday, December 3, 2009
12:10 p.m.
316 Wilson Hall
Abstract
Department of Psychology NEUROSCIENCE SEMINAR SERIES
For additional information, contact Carol Wiley@carol.wiley@vanderbilt.edu
12/4/09 Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience Colloquium
Rebecca St.Clair
Seiffert Lab
Department of Psychology
115 Wilson Hall
Friday 12/4/09
4:00 PM
12/8/09 CLINICAL BROWN BAG
Kushal Patel
A prostate cancer screening Program for low income African American Men
316 Wilson Hall
Tuesday, 12/8/2009
12:10-1:00 PM
12/09/09 Graduate Neuroscience Seminar
Christopher Moore, PhD
McGovern Institute for Brain Research
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Title
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
4:10 p.m.
1220 Medical Research Building III (MRB III)
Abstract
Graduate Neuroscience Seminar Series
For additional information, contact Carol Wiley@carol.wiley@vanderbilt.edu
12/10/09 Neuroscience Seminar Series
Jon Kaas, PhD
Vanderbilt University
Department of Psychology
Title
Thursday, December 10, 2009
12:10 p.m.
316 Wilson Hall
Abstract
Department of Psychology NEUROSCIENCE SEMINAR SERIES
For additional information, contact Carol Wiley@carol.wiley@vanderbilt.edu
Friday 12/11/09 Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience Colloquium
Geoff Woodman
Department of Psychology
Vanderbilt University
115 Wilson Hall
Friday 12/11/09
4:00 PM
12/17/09 Neuroscience Seminar Series
Hisashi Tanigawa, PhD
Vanderbilt University
Department of Psychology/Roe Lab
Title
Thursday, December 17, 2009
12:10 p.m.
316 Wilson Hall
Abstract
Department of Psychology NEUROSCIENCE SEMINAR SERIES
For additional information, contact Carol Wiley@carol.wiley@vanderbilt.edu
Thursday 1/21/2010 Lectures on Development and Developmental Disabilities Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Lecture
Michael R. DeBaun, M.D., M.P.H.
Professor of Pediatrics, Biostatistics, and Neurology
Washington University-St. Louis
Title TBA; topic likely to include the etiology, medical management, and cognitive outcomes of children with sickle cell disease.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
4:10 p.m.
Room 241 VKC/MRL Bldg _Michael R. DeBaun_ <http://peds.wustl.edu
2/25/10 Neuroscience Seminar Series
Vivien Casagrande, PhD
Vanderbilt University
Department of Cellular and Developmental Biology and Psychology
Title
Thursday, February 25, 2010
12:10 p.m.
316 Wilson Hall
Abstract
Department of Psychology NEUROSCIENCE SEMINAR SERIES
For additional information, contact Carol Wiley@carol.wiley@vanderbilt.edu
Wednesday, 3/3/2010 Neuroscience Graduate Seminar Series
Steven F. Maier , Ph.D.
Distinguished Professor of Psychology
Director of the Center for Neuroscience
University of Colorado
Title TBA; topic likely to include the neurobiology of stress, with a special emphasis on health and depression.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
4:10 p.m.
MRB III
Room 1220
Co-sponsor: Vanderbilt Brain Institute
Thursday 3/4/2010 Lectures on Development and Developmental Disabilities
Huda Y. Zoghbi, M.D.
Professor of Molecular & Human Genetics, Pediatrics, Neurology, and Neuroscience
Baylor College of Medicine
Title TBA; topic likely to include genetics and cell biology of Rett syndrome and autism spectrum disorders, polyglutamine neurodegenerative diseases, and genes essential for typical neurodevelopment.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
4:10 p.m.
Room 241
VKC/MRL Bldg
Wednesday, 3/31/2010 Neuroscience Graduate Seminar Series
Lisa M. Monteggia, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
Title TBA; topic likely to include the molecular and cellular basis of neural plasticity as it pertains to psychiatric disorders.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
4:10 p.m.
MRB III
Room 1220
Co-sponsor Vanderbilt Brain Institute
Wednesday, 4/7/2010 Neuroscience Graduate Seminar Series
Jeffrey D. Macklis, M.D., D.HST,
Pearlstein Professor of Neuroscience, Neurology, and Neurosurgery
Harvard Medical School Professor of Developmental and Regenerative Biology
Harvard University; Program Head Neuroscience/Nervous System Diseases
Harvard Stem Cell Institute; Director, MGH-HMS Center for Nervous System Repair
Title TBA; topic likely to include neural precursor / "stem cell"
biology, neocortical projection neuron differentiation, functional neuronal circuit repair via transplantation, and induction of neurogenesis by molecular manipulation.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
4:10 p.m.
MRB III
Room 1220
Co-sponsor: Vanderbilt Brain Institute
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